Tag: 3BL

Originally published in Otis 2022 ESG Report

Our vision, as industry leader, is to give people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. We embrace the responsibility to honor the generations that came before us, to deliver for the generations of today and to sponsor the generations that come after us. It is about doing the right thing for our planet, customers, colleagues, shareholders, and the communities where we live and work.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is part of our culture, integral to setting our vision in motion and embedded in our long-term strategy. It is no coincidence that the principles of ESG align well with the foundation of our business: our Absolutes of Safety, Ethics and Quality.

Safety was core to our beginnings 170 years ago and remains a top priority in our work today – for colleagues who design, install or service our elevators and escalators and for the 2 billion passengers who ride on them daily. Our reputation is paramount, and we uphold the highest standards of Ethics through strong governance and a spirit of integrity – always doing business the right way. We believe that all of us “own” Quality. We deliver quality results at every turn across our production, installation, and maintenance and repair processes as well as sales, marketing and financial reporting.

Our business success requires continuous growth and improvement, and ESG is an area where we and our stakeholders rightly expect progress. Last year, in our inaugural ESG report as an independent company, we made clear our dedication to the four pillars that are fundamental to our ESG strategy: Health & Safety, Environment & Impact, People & Communities, and Governance & Accountability. We hold ourselves accountable with the added step of tying executive short-term incentive compensation to ESG goal performance – specifically, achieving gender parity among executives and managing our environmental footprint to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ESG advancement is embedded in our success through strong financial results and the impact we make in the communities where we do business.

In this report, we are pleased to share initiatives and progress toward our 13 ESG goals and our commitment to foster a more sustainable, inclusive world. We aim to transparently provide updates toward our goals while celebrating important milestones.

Among the updates in this report:

Health & Safety: We remain committed to achieving a zero-harm workplace and launched Field Standard Practices to identify, track and rectify areas of high-risk work activities. If an incident does occur, we perform extensive root-cause analyses to make improvements and help prevent recurrence.Environment & Impact: In a first for the elevator industry, our Florence, South Carolina, U.S., facility achieved gold-level TRUE certification for its zero-waste efforts. And we built a new factory in San Sebastian, Spain, that used certain sustainable construction materials and is powered by electricity generated from 100% renewable resources.People & Communities: We launched a set of programs to support us in accelerating development of diverse talent, female leadership and our culture of inclusion. These programs are helping us ensure that our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We are on a responsible and sustainable path to reach gender parity in our executive ranks by 2030, having increased female executive representation from 36% in 2021 to 39.2% in 2022.Governance & Accountability: Members of our Board of Directors are deeply experienced senior executives across sectors that include asset management, automotive, consumer products, manufacturing and professional services. We seek to enhance Board diversity in other dimensions as well. With the addition of our newest Board member in October 2022, six of our 10 members are women, racially/ethnically diverse or both.

As we continuously work to advance our strategy, culture and ESG goals, we are doing so from a position of strength. I am confident that in this report you, our stakeholders, will see tangible progress toward limiting carbon emissions, reducing and reusing energy, promoting equity, inclusivity and diversity, and providing opportunities for all. We look forward to continuing our ESG journey alongside you.

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SAP’s strategic commitment to sustainability and the comprehensiveness of its commercial offerings were highlighted in the IDC Sustainability Index for Software Providers: SAP (doc #EUR147190121, May 2023), placing SAP in the top three of 23 software vendors that were assessed using IDC’s sustainability framework.

SAP Solutions Enable Organizations to Record, Report, and Act on their Sustainability Ambitions

IDC reviews the roles of major ICT players’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts across three pillars: Technology as an Enabler, Technology Vendor Performance, and Technology for Good. During its assessment of software vendors, IDC has found that SAP performs exceptionally well compared to its peers. SAP’s strong performance stems from its commitment to making sustainability an integral part of its mission. This is reflected in the company’s customer offerings and the skills it is incorporating into the organization at global and regional levels.

SAP placed among the top three in the Technology as an Enabler pillar, outperforming the market average in all five main categories – monetization, sustainable software features and practices, ESG management reporting software, software for operational optimization, and advisory services and sustainable ecosystems. One of the main reasons for the placement is the efficient internal product standards that ensure applications or services are both cost efficient and resource efficient. SAP complies with several industry standards, including ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 22301, ISO/IEC 27018, and ISO 10012.

SAP Cloud for Sustainable Enterprises is the umbrella cloud-based solution for a comprehensive package that can provide insights into organizations’ sustainable performance and can enable them to record, report, and act on their respective sustainability goals. Flagship solution SAP Sustainability Control Tower can provide customers with holistic steering and ESG reporting along the three main sustainability areas: climate action, circular economy, and social responsibility.

SAP Sustainability solutions deliver company-wide functionality and industry-specific features that can help you incorporate sustainability in business at scale by embedding operations, experience, and financial insights into your core business processes.

One clear example is SAP’s commitment to helping companies track carbon accounting with more precision and control by using actual data across their business operations and supply chains in sync with financial flows. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal about carbon accounting, Sebastian Steinhaeuser, chief strategy officer at SAP, shared his thoughts on why companies need carbon accounting: “We need to standardize how we do carbon accounting globally because, today, companies still take different approaches based on individual solutions, which aren’t easy to compare. We need carbon accounting with the same accuracy, detail, and transparency as financial accounting and standardizations like the SEC or ISSB so that we also operate all on the same common framework of rules like we do in financial accounting today.”

The Technology Vendor Performance pillar comprises five categories – governance, social sustainability, supply chain for company operations, operational sustainability, and environmental sustainability. SAP outperformed the market average and was among the top five performers across these categories.

Sustainability has always been embedded as a part of SAP’s governance. Strong evidence of SAP’s commitment to sustainability is the inclusion of sustainability KPIs in all Executive Board members’ compensation plans. Additionally, every quarter, SAP reviews sustainability practices, publishes financials, and selects sustainability KPIs. SAP adheres to various non-financial reporting standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Taskforce for Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), Climate Disclosure Project (CDP), and European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

SAP supports programs such as Targets for Women in Management, Women to Watch, Inclusive Mindset Challenge, Fair Pay Initiative, Business Women’s Network, Black Employee Network, and Pride@SAP to promote diversity and inclusion. SAP is one of the few companies that impose an internal carbon tax, although that carbon tax applies solely to new projects and activities that require the consumption of fossil fuels. SAP also charges an internal carbon price for business flights in most countries they leave from, thus incentivizing the use of eco-friendly alternatives, such as traveling by train.

SAP was placed in the top five in the Technology for Good pillar. SAP achieved a maximum score due to a strong global corporate social responsibility (CSR) and volunteering presence. SAP employees contributed over 117,000 hours of pro bono time and committed 27.6 million euros globally to common good causes. Employees’ understanding of social and environmental issues is deepened through the 614 virtual and on-site volunteering opportunities.

As IDC points out in the report, the importance of sustainability in SAP’s strategy and business model can be traced to the company’s mission statement: “[Our purpose is] to help the world run better and improve people’s lives. We strive to achieve this as both an enabler and an exemplar of sustainable business. In addition, we want our own business operations and practices to be intelligent, sustainable, and inclusive.” SAP is committed to multiple sustainability milestones, including carbon neutrality in its own operations by the end of 2023 and achieving net-zero emissions along its value chain by 2030.

About the IDC Sustainability Index

IDC evaluated SAP’s performance against more than 130 parameters present in IDC’s Technology for Sustainability and Social Impact (TSSI) framework for software vendors. IDC’s TSSI Index offers a view of the current state of the European ICT industry regarding sustainability and social impact. The assessment focused on SAP’s three core areas – ESG achievements, sustainability portfolio of products and solutions, and altruistic initiatives that provide technological solutions.

IDC selects vendors for profiles based on their overall sustainability performances measured against a predefined criterion, their proactivity on sustainability issues, and their provision of information in a transparent manner. Some of the other vendors like Adobe, Benchmark ESG, BMC Software, Eset, Genesys, Goby, IBM, IFS, Logo, Microsoft, MobileXpense, NetApp, OneTrust, Oracle, Persefoni, Sage, Salesforce, ServiceNow, SoftwareAG, Sphera, TietoEvry, and Wolters Kluwers were also assessed.

IDC’s Sustainability Framework is built on three pillars – Technology Vendor Performance, Technology as an Enabler, and Technology for Good. SAP performed exceptionally well, outperforming the industry average on each of the three pillars and all 15 major categories that were assessed.

For more details, download the full report here.

June 6, 2023 /3BL Media/ – GRI CEO Eelco van der Enden is in the ASEAN region from 5-13 June for a series of high-level meetings with companies, regulators, policymakers and stakeholders, on a mission raise the profile and application of sustainability reporting.

Following a successful visit to the region in March (when Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines were the focus), this time Mr van der Enden’s itinerary will prioritize Indonesia alongside a return to Singapore. His public engagements include:

Ecosperity Week 2023 (6 June, Singapore): Eelco will provide a keynote address on the theme ‘accelerating trust and transparency in a world on fire’, at this major gathering of business leaders and public sector representatives from across Asia-Pacific.Binus University and GRI co-hosted event(12 June, Jakarta) – The evolving role of universities: Rising up to the global sustainability challenge: Addressing around 700 students and academics, Eelco will explore why universities need to get involved in the sustainability transition, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.IDX (Indonesian Stock Exchange) and GRI co-hosted session(13 June, Jakarta) – The future of sustainability reporting: Forum for regulators and listed companies: Eelco will be joined by I Gede Nyoman Yetna (Listing Director of IDX) and Antonius Hari (Head of Capital Market Regulation, OJK – the Indonesian Financial Services Authority), to share about developments in the disclosure landscape.

Eelco van der Enden said:

“The fact that every top 100 company in Singapore, and 78% of those in Indonesia*, use the GRI Standards underlines the significant opportunities in the region to unlock the power of transparency as a force for change. The next stage is to raise the quality of disclosure and further cascade the adoption of impact reporting.

To do so necessitates stakeholder joint-working, including companies, governments, regulators and investors. Over the coming days, I look forward to strengthening relationships with ASEAN-based organizations, to drive forward sustainability reporting throughout the region.

I will also update businesses on GRI’s collaboration with our colleagues at the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and EFRAG in the EU. Particularly given the timeframe for these standards to become available, GRI reporting is all the more relevant to meet the information needs of investors and other stakeholders.” 

Eelco van der Enden will also meet with the Singapore Government’s Chief Sustainability Officer; Temasek (Singaporean national investment company); and member companies of the GRI ASEAN Consortium. In Indonesia, Eelco will meet senior officials from: the International Finance Corporation; Saka Farma; Medco Energi, PwC Indonesia; PT-ABM Investama; SECO Indonesia; and GIZ Indonesia.

The GRI ASEAN regional network opened in Singapore in 2019. With a global HQ based in Amsterdam and Brussels, GRI also has locations covering South Asia (New Delhi), Greater China Region (Hong Kong), Africa (Johannesburg), North America (New York), and Latin America (Bogota).

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent, international organization that helps businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts, by providing the global common language to report those impacts. The GRI Standards are developed through a multi-stakeholder process and provided as a free public good.

*KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting 2022

This is an exciting time for Bath & Body Works with the release of its first ESG report. What excites you the most about being at the company and helping to lead its ESG journey?

It’s great to be back in my home state of Ohio, and I’m excited to join Bath & Body Works on its ESG journey. I come to work every day inspired by my smart, passionate colleagues who are committed to doing the right thing, and that positive energy has been fueling so much of the ESG progress to date.

Since I joined Bath & Body Works in December 2021, we’ve been learning, growing and connecting across the organization and framing ESG as a collective effort in which everyone’s role is important to our success. What excites me is that while formalizing ESG within the company is new, sustainability work has been taking place for years. It’s now a matter of organizing our priorities, refining and building the programs needed to support the work and taking our internal and external stakeholders along for the ride. What also excites me is the incredible support from our Executive Council and Board of Directors who understand the value ESG brings to the business.

In thinking about the company’s ESG strategy/commitments, how did you prioritize the work? Is there an area that you are especially passionate about moving forward?

In order to create the most meaningful and impactful ESG strategy, it first needs focus. So, we started this work by conducting a prioritization assessment to better understand the interests and needs of our internal partners and external stakeholders, including investors, topical experts and, of course, our customers. As a result, we created our ESG strategy focused on six priority areas, each supported by near- and longer-term commitments.

When I look at our ESG strategy and commitments, I believe each of these topics link up nicely with one another, and we will quickly find that work against one goal supports progress in multiple areas. It may sound cliché, but it’s impossible for me to pick an area where I’m more passionate about driving forward than another because I see all of these working hand-in-hand to move the company toward a more responsible and resilient future. Take, for example, our work around the sustainable sourcing of our ingredients. When we progress along that journey, it can also help deliver enhanced product transparency, as well as help with improving our social and environmental impacts — all of which can deliver more sustainable products that we know our customers want.

What does success look like for ESG at Bath & Body Works in the coming years?

When I think of the year ahead, I think of one word — progress. We’ve set meaningful goals that will require significant collaboration, investment, thoughtful planning and solid execution to ensure success. For example, we’ve set goals around climate change and carbon emissions, which are to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions 50% by 2030. To accomplish this, we’re actively looking at how to leverage renewable energy as one of the means to deliver against that goal. At the same time, we are conducting a baseline assessment of our Scope 3 emissions, which will take time. This will span across our entire value chain — from sourcing our ingredients all the way to the end of product life. Once we collect that information, we’ll be looking to set an ambitious goal for the entire value chain in 2025, aligned to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), to ultimately move toward climate neutrality. It is said, ‘little by little, one travels far.’ I’m confident that we will make steady progress and by next year we will have additional data and outcomes of the work that demonstrates the progress we’re making step-by-step and day-by-day as we take care of the things that matter most.

Reflecting new milestones across climate, recycling, food systems and many other areas in its latest Sustainability Report

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 6, 2023 /3BL Media/: Today, Tetra Pak publishes its Sustainability Report FY22[1], highlighting the company’s progress across various aspects of sustainability. Now in its 24th edition, the report demonstrates how sustainability remains core to Tetra Pak’s strategy and continues to be prioritised in decision making.

During the year 2022, Tetra Pak achieved significant milestones, reducing operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 39%[2], with 84% of the energy coming from renewable sources[3]. This puts the company on track to achieve net zero within its own operations by 2030. Additionally, the sale of 8.8 billion plant-based packages[4] and 11.9 billion plant-based caps translated into 131 kilo tonnes of CO2[5] savings. Tetra Pak also invested nearly €30 million[6] to accelerate collection and recycling of beverage cartons, while working with food technology incubators and start-ups to explore the future of sustainable food.

This was in the context of a year marked by considerable uncertainty, driven by the after-effects of COVID-19, supply chain issues and geo-political challenges such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The combination of all these factors has resulted in significant financial challenges for businesses and consumers, driving up the cost of living and resulting in food insecurity for many.

Adolfo Orive, President & CEO at Tetra Pak, says: “The current operating environment has emphasised the need for integrated, systemic solutions. This is the only way we can meet the scale and speed of change required to strengthen food access while reducing the environmental impact, in a way that leaves no one behind. This is why we have taken a holistic approach across five interconnected and interdependent areas where we can contribute the most – food systems, circularity, climate, nature and social sustainability.”

Tetra Pak’s Sustainability Report FY22 highlights the company’s achievements in the past year, and the ongoing initiatives to protect food, people and the planet. These include:

Testing an industry-first fibre-based barrier to replace the thin aluminium foil layer in aseptic carton packages – a breakthrough in the company’s journey towards a fully renewable aseptic package.Recognition for leadership in corporate transparency and performance on climate change and forests by global environmental non-profit CDP, securing a place on its prestigious ‘A List’ for the fourth year running.Designing a new processing method for soya drinks, as well as a new technology to transform Brewer’s Spent Grain[7] into a plant-based beverage – for less waste and more nutrition.Enabling 66 million children in 44 countries to get access to nutritious beverages through school feeding programmes, helping to improve children’s health, increase school attendance and support agricultural development.Delivering milk to dairies in 22 Dairy Hub projects through approximately 44,000 farmers, in most cases smallholders, as part of the company’s long-term work to build local dairy value chains.Restoring 87 hectares of land – the equivalent of 136 football fields – through the Araucaria Conservation Programme in Brazil.Implementing UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights[8] and making progress on diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I).

Adolfo concludes: “With a solid environmental track record and a strong commitment to the future, we will continue to drive ourselves and others to work ever more closely and find sustainable solutions to the challenges we face as a society. After all, this is core to our purpose: ‘We commit to making food safe and available, everywhere. And we promise to protect what’s good: food, people, and the planet.'”

The full FY22 report can be found here.

Media contacts
Lucia Freschi 
Tetra Pak
Tel: +39 347 2632237
Lucia.freschi@tetrapak.com  

1 Financial year 2022 (FY22) is the period from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022
2 Scopes 1, 2 and business travels
3 As a result of increasing the company’s on-site solar photovoltaics (PVs) capacity from 5.55MW in 2021 to 8.47MW in 2022
4 Volumes exclude Blend in BIO (BiB) sold in Brazil. BiB is a mix of 75% LDPE and 25% plant-based LDPE
5 Compared to the amount of CO2 which would have been emitted if using fossil-based plastic. Based on climate accounting internal calculations (volume x emission factor) considering 72.7 kilo tonnes of plant-based plastic purchased in 2022. To calculate the avoided emissions number, Tetra Pak uses a third-party emission factor for the plant-based polymers from public available lifecycle assessment by Braskem. Source: https://www.braskem.com.br/portal/imgreen arquivos/LCA%20PE%20I’m%20green%20bio-based_FINAL%20EN.pdf
6 Operational and capital expenditures
7 Brewer’s Spent Grain is the industrial moniker used to describe the malt after a brewery has already used it to make beer. Source: https://www.regrained.com/blogs/upcyclist/what-is-spent-grain
8 The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) are the global standard for business conduct concerning human rights. They’re composed of 3 pillars: First, the state has a duty to protect people against human rights harm by business. It requires states to use all the tools at their disposal—law, policy, regulation, and adjudication—to protect against human rights harm by business. Second, businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights. That is, businesses should not infringe on human rights in their own operations, or in their business relationships (e.g. with partners, suppliers, and customers). That responsibility of businesses is much harder to realise when the state does not do its job, but the responsibility remains, nonetheless. Third, there is a need for greater access to remedy. This requires states & businesses to play roles in providing access to effective remedy—both judicial and non-judicial—for those harmed by business-related human rights abuse.

What job would you take after being the CEO of a 160-year-old, multi-billion-dollar international company?

Foreseeing tequila’s imminent rise, as well as its impact on ecosystems and communities in Jalisco, Michael Dolan, former Bacardi CEO, is on a mission to hold the spirits industry accountable for its carbon and community footprint. He’s leaned into sustainability to create a new company and category in the luxury market that promotes “premium with a purpose.” The company, Mijenta, is an exceptional award-winning artisanal liquor and the first and only B Corp tequila producer on the market.

We invited Michael Dolan, CEO of Mijenta, to share why he created Mijenta and how he is demonstrating to businesses and their leaders that it’s possible to pursue premium quality, purpose, and profit all at the same time.

Listen for insights on:

The three most important pieces of advice for starting an ESG-focused companyHow a CEO recognizes value in business-driven environmental and social sustainabilityEducating and building ESG-minded boardsInviting industry outsiders to collaborate

To listen to this episode and others, visit Purpose 360 Podcast.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not just words but values that are exemplified through our culture at Cadence. In the DEI@Cadence blog series, you’ll find a community where employees share their perspectives and experiences. By providing a glimpse of their personal stories, we celebrate our One Cadence—One Team culture and the importance of sustaining it as we learn from diverse perspectives.

The question of how and where to start your career is always on the minds of university students who either have recently graduated or are looking to join the corporate world while pursuing their degree. The internship program run by the Cadence Cork office in collaboration with various universities in Ireland provides an excellent opportunity for such students. I was elated to be selected as a Technical Communications intern in the Custom IC and PCB group (CPG) back in March along with 19 other interns who joined other teams.

We are the third batch of interns at the Cork office. Within the short period I have spent here, I can confidently say that there couldn’t have been a better way for me to begin my career. I have gained first-hand information about how a world-class company operates, learned the skills required to be successful in my role, and interacted with a talented pool of employees who come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. In addition, I got the opportunity to live the much-talked-about Cadence culture of work-life balance and experience many fun activities. In this blog, I aim to cover my top five reasons why Cadence is a great place to work!

A Warm Welcome from the Cadence Team!

First impressions are vital when shaping an opinion of a new job. The customer and business focus of the company appealed strongly to me, along with the friendly and inclusive culture of the Cork office. This culture was evident from the start. It all began with a friendly chat with the Senior Recruiter for Cadence Ireland, Ben Woods, who clearly explained what I could expect from the internship role at Cadence. The interview process that followed made me feel comfortable at each stage, and as a result, I could answer all questions without any reservations. The interview was more along the lines of determining what I’m passionate about; and, seeing if I’d be a good fit for the role. On my joining day, it was so exciting to meet all the other interns, and the Cadence Ireland HR team along with site leadership team members. I could see that HR and the site leadership team were as excited as we were, and we all felt privileged to be part of the fantastic Cadence Cork team!

The Global Scale of Cadence

I didn’t know much about the electronic design automation (EDA) industry before joining Cadence, so it was surprising to learn about the company’s global scale and its crucial role in the semiconductor technology sector. I’ve gathered that lots of the technology we use every day – our mobile phones, smart appliances, and cars – have chips that have been created using Cadence software and that Cadence has played a pivotal role in enabling design companies (our customers) to develop innovative technology worldwide. In the words of our CEO, Anirudh Devgan, “Almost any chip in the world is designed with some form of Cadence software.” Amazing, isn’t it?

I’ve also found out about the breadth of operations at Cadence, with there being an office in many countries across the globe, and I have been lucky to have gotten the chance to work with experts at other locations.

Induction Sessions – Starting the Learning Journey

Starting a new job can be overwhelming, so the quality and rigor of induction sessions play an important role in assisting new hires to smoothly transition into the role and feel settled. The meticulously planned induction sessions helped me get acquainted with the team, understand key processes, and learn the ropes of the job. As the director of the CPG Technical Communications team in Cork, Ashok Appu, says, “Be a sponge and try to absorb as much as you can to make the most out of the internship”. He also always encourages me to ask questions if I am unclear about anything. As a part of the CPG Technical Communications team, I’ve learned that our day-to-day work requires close collaboration with the research and development (R&D), product engineering, product validation, and configuration management teams to ensure that our world-class EDA products and their features are documented in a way that our customers can use them in the best possible way.

Healthy Work-Life Balance

At Cadence, we follow the hybrid work model, which I believe is a great way to offer work-from-home flexibility to employees when needed without losing out on the real in-person office experience. Cadence employees get 10 additional days off, popularly known as global recharge days, per year as well. These usually fall on a Friday or Monday, resulting in an extended weekend. The best part about these refresh days is that all Cadence offices globally switch off to allow employees to spend quality time with their families or pursue out-of-work interests without the fear of returning to a mailbox full of pending tasks. After spending some time in the Cork office, I also realized that everyone genuinely enjoys being here! The modern office space is a joy to work in, and there are plenty of fun spaces, such as the Xbox room and the pool table, to take a refreshing break when you need one. Not to mention the fun events organized regularly to allow employees to interact with each other in an informal setup. These are only a few examples of how the employee-first approach followed at Cadence ensures a healthy work-life balance.

Cadence Celebrates Diversity!

Last but not least, another thing that was evident soon after I joined was the focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Cadence. Given my literature background, it was interesting and inspiring the find out about the impact of language and communication through the Words Matter Initiative and our DEI@Cadence blog series. I strongly believe that a diverse workplace can provide employees with a sense of belonging and bring out the best in them. Organizations like our Black Inclusion Group (BIG), Latinx Inclusion Group (Cadencia), LGBT+ Inclusion Group, Women at Cadence Inclusion Group (WIN), and Veterans Inclusion Group, as well as our new inclusion groups for Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) employees, neurodivergent employees and employees with disabilities (Abilities), and Indian employees, are a testament to Cadence’s commitment to developing an inclusive environment. This is undoubtedly one of the crucial elements that contribute to the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at Cadence. It is a privilege to work in a company that values diversity of thought, culture, and background.

Interns Then, Full-Time Employees Now…

The completion of the internship period sometimes marks the beginning of full-time employment at Cadence, too! So, lastly, I’d like to share comments from the previous batch of interns, who are now full-time employees at Cadence Cork.

As you can tell from my initial observations and those of the other interns, it has been an absolute pleasure being a part of Cadence Cork for the last month. I want to express my gratitude to everyone in the office for making the interns feel so welcome. I’m sure that my six-month term here will be full of learning and fun, and I’m looking forward to it!

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On May 1, 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) focusing on the reduction of fall-related injuries and fatalities for people working at heights in all industries. OSHA issues citations regarding fall protection more frequently than any other violation in construction industry inspections and falls from elevation accounted for 13% of all workplace deaths in 2021.

All construction inspections conducted by OSHA will be conducted according to the NEP instructions found here.

In addition, this NEP targets the following general industry activities:

Roof top mechanical work/maintenanceUtility line work/maintenance (electrical, cable)Arborist/tree trimmingHoliday light installationRoad sign maintenance/billboardsPower washing buildings (not connected to painting)Gutter cleaningChimney cleaningWindow cleaningCommunication Towers

If an OSHA investigator observes an employee working at height for any other non-construction activity not listed above, they may request approval from their area office manager to initiate an inspection under this NEP.

OSHA Inspection Process Under New NEP

Inspections under the new NEP will begin after a 90-day outreach period; which is usually accomplished by a letter being sent out to all industries with North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) or Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes targeted by the emphasis program. Outreach activities under this NEP will be continued quarterly thereafter and may include seminars, promotional materials, and the on-site consultation program.

Under the direction of this NEP, OSHA will assign an employee to travel through a selected geographic area to make a list of ongoing construction activities, regardless of observed hazards. The list will include street address, type of construction activity, and any other relevant observations, at a minimum. Other items, if available, such as the identity of the employer and hazards observed will be recorded. A master list will be generated with each establishment listed in the order they were observed and then a random number generator will be applied to determine which entities will be inspected under this NEP.

Key Changes to Fall Protection Enforcement

The major change that this NEP implements compared to prior OSHA enforcement of fall protection is that now targeted inspections will be conducted at construction sites or select generally industry sites without an OSHA investigator observing a case of imminent danger or a reported complaint, injury, or fatality related to fall protection.

In addition, an OSHA investigator may initiate an inspection if they observe an employee working at height under any condition, with approval from their office area director. If the OSHA investigator is unable to immediately begin an inspection after observing a fall hazard, they can provide the area office with a referral where they will be evaluated by the area director, and if appropriate, be assigned to another investigator.

Like all inspections, the OSHA investigator must focus on the scope for which the inspection was initiated, in this case, fall protection. However, the scope may be expanded based on injury and illness records, plain view hazards, or employee interviews.

Understanding NEPs and How They Impact Your Operations

OSHA identifies hazards and high-hazard industries based on inspection data, injury and illness data, NIOSH reports, peer-reviewed literature, and analysis of inspection findings. These NEPs are applied to industries with SIC/NAICS codes that traditionally have the hazards. Currently, there are 11 NEPS, as follows:

Combustible DustFall ProtectionHazardous MachineryHeatHexavalent ChromiumLeadPrimary Metal IndustriesProcess Safety ManagementShipbreakingSilica, CrystallineTrenching and Excavation

Review documentation on these NEPs here. 

In addition to NEPs, there are regional Local Emphasis Programs (LEPs); for example, Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT) have the following LEPs:

NoisePowered Industrial TrucksCranes in ConstructionFall HazardsTree and Landscape OperationsResidential Construction

A full list of LEPs can be found here.

State plans may also adopt the NEPs and LEPs; a review of their adoption would need to be conducted through the individual state’s Department of Labor.

Generally, each OSHA office will take the industries in their area that apply to each emphasis program and apply a random number generator to populate their inspection list for the year. Each emphasis program has a different number of required inspections for the year which can be found within the enforcement document.

If the office gets through the first round of inspections, they may then select another batch of industries for inspection using the random number generator. Most enforcement programs have a list of the SIC/NAICS codes they cover in their appendix section.

Why Are NEPs Important? 

It is important for industries to know if they fall under a NEP or LEP because that will potentially open them up to another avenue for an OSHA inspection. The emphasis programs do not frequently change from year to year so once a company initially determines if they fall under any applicable NEPs or LEPs they can reasonably expect that those emphasis programs will continue in the following years.

Another benefit of reviewing the emphasis programs is that a company can target its safety efforts to help reduce risk of injury in identified, high-hazard areas and processes.

Getting a handle on the National Emphasis Program updates can be tricky. Luckily, our Health and Safety experts are here to help. Reach out to our team today for help preparing for your next OSHA visit.

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About Antea Group

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com. 

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Join PNC Diversity & Inclusion for a special LGBTQ+ Pride Month event featuring Wade Davis, VP of Inclusion & Product at Netflix, Former NFL Player and Corporate Inclusion Advisor & Educator. Wade will inspire us to be courageous enough to speak up, explain how new media is disrupting the status quo, and share transformative solutions to build an inclusive culture within our communities.

Presenter

Wade Davis 
VP of Inclusion Strategy for Product at Netflix, Former NFL Player, Corporate Inclusion Advisor & Educator

Wade Davis is a former NFL player turned thought leader, public speaker and writer. Currently, Wade is the Vice President of Inclusion Strategy for Product at Netflix. He has previously consulted for companies such as Google, Procter & Gamble and Viacom.

Wade Davis is also a Global Champion for Innovation for UN Women, and serves on the boards of MeTooInternational, the Ms. Foundation for Women, the MAD Foundation, Promundo and the Peace Studio. Wade works to engage, educate and help men understand what actions to take toward gender equality. Wade was the NFL’s first LGBTQ Inclusion consultant and has consulted for various professional sports leagues. He also consults with entertainment industry leaders such as Fox, Viacom and NBC.

A former national surrogate for President Obama, Wade has been an Adjunct Professor at NYU and Rutgers. He received an honorary degree from Northeastern University and is currently working on his first book.

Opening Remarks

J. Reymundo Ocañas 
EVP, Director of Community Development Banking

Rey Ocañas is responsible for PNC’s team dedicated to improving low- and moderate-income communities across the bank’s footprint using innovative financial transactions, the delivery of programs supporting families and neighborhoods and through strategic grantmaking coast to coast.

He leads the teams producing Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) eligible community development lending and investment across PNC markets, with a primary focus on commercial and residential real estate, community development financial institutions and opportunity zone financing.

Rey is responsible for the launch and delivery of PNC’s $88 Billion Community Benefits Plan announced March 2021 that will provide $47 billion in residential mortgage and home equity loans; $26.5 billion in loans to small businesses; $14.5 billion in community development loans, including at least $400 million for community development financial institutions; and $500 million in charitable giving, sponsorships and philanthropic grants. This Plan also includes a $1.5 Billion commitment to address systemic racism through the deployment of capital and programs that provide economic opportunity for communities of color across the U.S.

Before joining the bank in 2009, Rey held positions with BBVA (merged with PNC), Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, the Texas Association of Community Development Corporations and the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Moderator

Nicholas C. Ashburn, CSRIC 
Vice President, Head of Responsible Investing

Nick Ashburn is the Head of Responsible Investing (RI) for the Asset Management Group (AMG). In this role, Nick leads the investment, operational, and product strategy for RI, which includes providing RI investment solutions for individuals, families, and institutions; advancing the firm’s research and analytical capabilities on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics; and developing content and brand awareness for RI at PNC.

Prior to joining PNC, Nick led impact investing research and education at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and was a host on SiriusXM’s Business Radio channel. He has held teaching positions at the University of Texas-Austin and the University of Pennsylvania, and he was a Fulbright Fellow in Austria. He has also worked in community development venture capital, the nonprofit sector, and strategy consulting. 

Nick holds a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University. He is also a Chartered SRI Counselor® through the College for Financial Planning® and speaks German. 

Nick serves as a voting member of the AMG Proxy Voting committee and actively participates in the CIO’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.

Closing Remarks

Emma Loftus 
Executive Vice President, Head of Treasury Management

Emma Loftus is executive vice president and head of Treasury Management for PNC Bank. With a longstanding record of delivering value and customized business solutions to clients across all market segments, Emma is focused on building a culture of innovation and establishing strategic priorities to position PNC as an industry-leading provider.

Before joining PNC in 2019, Emma served as Managing Director and Head of Global Payments for JP Morgan. She has held key product management and operations management positions in the payables, receivables and foreign exchange businesses at JP Morgan, Citi and Deutsche Bank.

Emma is a recognized leader in treasury management and an active industry participant. She is a former director of SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) and a former member of the Clearing House Payco Board and Federal Reserve Payments Risk Committee.

Emma is Co-Sponsor of the PNC Proud Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG). In her appointed role with PNC Proud, she intends to support her group through listening, advocacy, and empowerment.

Emma holds a BA from Duke University and an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

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In 2022, Paramount Global strengthened their commitment to social impact and used their power as a global content creator for good. This included a heavy emphasis on essential, strategic partnerships to help foster the commitment to social impact and using power as a global content creator for good.

To celebrate the collective social impact ahead of Community Day 2023 on June 14th, view the infographic linked below created to highlight some of this past year’s milestones. It is underscored that none of these initiatives would be possible without dedicated community partners and passioned employees devoting their resources to causes they care about.

SEE WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER